Skylar Diggins--"She Got Game," interviewed by the NY Times

[RoyDodger]

Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins is interviewed in today's NY Times magazine by Andrew Goldman. According to the interview, she's not concerned about big money in the WNBA, changes her hairstyle at the half sometimes to help get "down and dirty," is "not very good with mercy," and doesn't regret leaving the NCAA final court after the game without shaking the hands of the Texas A & M players.

Skylar Diggins interview

 

[alexrgct]

Who?

 

[schmendrick]

Is it me as a UConn WBB fan or is she just lacking in grace and fundamentally unlikable? Yuck.

 

[AboutWeston]

Is it me as a UConn WBB fan or is she just lacking in grace and fundamentally unlikable? Yuck.

YES.

I think the NYTIMES did a number on her, to be fair. They noted that it had been "edited."

 

[RoyDodger]

YES.

I think the NYTIMES did a number on her, to be fair. They noted that it had been "edited."

If I remember correctly, Goldman's interview page says that every week. In other words, the Times just doesn't have the space for every word that's been said. I wouldn't take that as any comment on this particular interview.

And as for Andrew Goldman, he's a first-rate interviewer. I don't see anything in his questions that indicates he was setting her up or being unfair. Obviously, the questions could be edited from those that were asked, but considering that Goldman has been doing this for some time without criticism that I've heard, it's unlikely any major changes were made.

 

[RoyDodger]

Just to set the record straight, and talking about editing, my original post referred to "Andrew Solomon," not Goldman. That was due my recollection of the previous regular Sunday interviewer who was named Deborah Solomon. I edited my two posts accordingly to give Mr. Goldman his due.

 

[HuskyNan]

Is it me as a UConn WBB fan or is she just lacking in grace and fundamentally unlikable? Yuck.

I have no idea what people see in that interview that makes Diggins unlikable. She was honest and answered questions that I would consider inappropriate (concerning her mom) with candor and courtesy. I also appreciate that she took ownership of the loss vs A&M last April.

Some of the things said here about Skylar remind me of Another Fan Board and it's trashing of Diana.

 

[ThisJustIn]

It's simple, Nan: she's not a UConn player so she's not allowed to get any attention from the media.

As for the "editing" you can, of course, slant a person's response when you do edit, but more often than not you're trying to make them make sense. I mean, have you ever been interviewed and seen the literal transcription. You are not as clear and intelligent as you think. That's why radio interviews amaze me....

 

[alexrgct]

Personally, I think it's great that the fifth-best player in WCBB gets the lion's share of attention because she's hot. Definitely a step in the right direction for women's empowerment.

 

[speedoo]

Personally, I think it's great that the fifth-best player in WCBB gets the lion's share of attention because she's hot. Definitely a step in the right direction for women's empowerment.

Let's see..

Griner
Nneka
Bria

Who's your #4?

Kelly? Tiff?

 

[alexrgct]

Odyssey outplayed Skylar in head to head and I would take her over Skylar if I were starting a team.

Edit: I wasn't even including Bria as better than Skylar. Though the argument could be made, especially depending on what happens at the end of the month and in march. I had EDD.

 

[speedoo]

Odyssey outplayed Skylar in head to head and I would take her over Skylar if I were starting a team.

Edit: I wasn't even including Bria as better than Skylar. Though the argument could be made, especially depending on what happens at the end of the month and in march. I had EDD.

Yeah, Sims has certainly gotten far less attention. Obviously she is twitter-deficient. However my perception is that Diggins is a better passer, maybe just because she is longer.

Agree about EDD as well, but I want Bria on my team over Skylar. But I am of course biased.

 

[DEK1234]

Nneka Ogwumike is criminally underrated in the world of WCBB. She doesn't get nearly enough attention for her skills and for what she does for her team. I understand it's all a business and it's better to shove certain players down our throats than others but it's simply unfair.

 

[Timeout]

Jury still out on Diggins I suppose - the 27th, the Big East Tournament, and for that matter the rest of her college career. We'll see.

 

[Kevin G]

Nan: With all due respect she's done nothing compared to Diana. Diana "earned" that kind of attitude. Skylar is a very good player, but IMO has a bit too much attitude for someone who hasnt won a thing. Some attitude is good, some!

 

[RoyDodger]

I have no idea what people see in that interview that makes Diggins unlikable. She was honest and answered questions that I would consider inappropriate (concerning her mom) with candor and courtesy. I also appreciate that she took ownership of the loss vs A&M last April.

Some of the things said here about Skylar remind me of Another Fan Board and it's trashing of Diana.

Nan, I respectfully disagree on the appropriateness of the questions. Athletes and celebs have been asked questions like that for generations. Goldman was simply trying to find out about what makes her tick and apparently was basing his questions on information already available from other sources. I think she handled it quite well in that regard and I doubt anyone forced her to be interviewed.

 

[rjp172]

Nan: With all due respect she's done nothing compared to Diana. Diana "earned" that kind of attitude. Skylar is a very good player, but IMO has a bit too much attitude for someone who hasnt won a thing. Some attitude is good, some!

Correction. She hasn't won a thing in WCBB. She is a pillar of USA basketball age group teams. She's been on all of them. Been a leader on and off the court for them. Has always been one of the top couple of stat leaders on those teams as well. The USA coaches rave about her and so do the other players. N. Ogwumike raved about how her passing ability is phenomenal. She's still just in her second season as a pg. As for Sims being better. Maybe. She's a great player. I think there was a fine line in their match-up about who out played who. Sims put up some stats, but life is easier on your home court with a 6'8 monster post. Diggins had the more spectacular passes in that game. Her teammates just didn't finish. I don't really get the attitude complaint. It's never directed at teammates, competitors, or fans. She's complimentary of everyone she meets. That "attitude" is contagious and the reason ND has risen to where they are currently. From a ND perspective its definitely a pro...not a con. I think Diana always had that attitude. It's what makes her the player and competitor she is. She didn't develop it year by year as the titles came. It's instinctual and a credit to her as a player.

 

[Kevin G]

Correction. She hasn't won a thing in WCBB. She is a pillar of USA basketball age group teams. She's been on all of them. Been a leader on and off the court for them. Has always been one of the top couple of stat leaders on those teams as well. The USA coaches rave about her and so do the other players. N. Ogwumike raved about how her passing ability is phenomenal. She's still just in her second season as a pg. As for Sims being better. Maybe. She's a great player. I think there was a fine line in their match-up about who out played who. Sims put up some stats, but life is easier on your home court with a 6'8 monster post. Diggins had the more spectacular passes in that game. Her teammates just didn't finish. I don't really get the attitude complaint. It's never directed at teammates, competitors, or fans. She's complimentary of everyone she meets. That "attitude" is contagious and the reason ND has risen to where they are currently. From a ND perspective its definitely a pro...not a con. I think Diana always had that attitude. It's what makes her the player and competitor she is. She didn't develop it year by year as the titles came. It's instinctual and a credit to her as a player.

Are we watching the same player on the court? She has attitude as if she is WCBB. I do not disagree that she is a very good player. She absolutely is. But, she is not that hyped up or better than a few others who are currently playing. I, for one, would of loved to of read an article on Nneka. In general I think it is great exposure for WCBB

 

[speedoo]

Correction. She hasn't won a thing in WCBB. She is a pillar of USA basketball age group teams. She's been on all of them. Been a leader on and off the court for them. Has always been one of the top couple of stat leaders on those teams as well. The USA coaches rave about her and so do the other players. N. Ogwumike raved about how her passing ability is phenomenal. She's still just in her second season as a pg. As for Sims being better. Maybe. She's a great player. I think there was a fine line in their match-up about who out played who. Sims put up some stats, but life is easier on your home court with a 6'8 monster post. Diggins had the more spectacular passes in that game. Her teammates just didn't finish. I don't really get the attitude complaint. It's never directed at teammates, competitors, or fans. She's complimentary of everyone she meets. That "attitude" is contagious and the reason ND has risen to where they are currently. From a ND perspective its definitely a pro...not a con. I think Diana always had that attitude. It's what makes her the player and competitor she is. She didn't develop it year by year as the titles came. It's instinctual and a credit to her as a player.

Fair comment. I think a lot of people, me included, feel that Diggins' popularity, hype, whatever you wish to call it, is very disproportional to her value and ability. Just watching the ND vs. WVU game right now, it's all Diggins, all the time. Camera is always on her, commentators talk about her almost constantly, etc. The only player in WCBB who seems get a comparable amount of attention is Griner, and Griner's attention is far more deserved than Diggins is IMO.

I agree she is a terrific player, certainly ND's best player, and one of the very best in WCBB. But there are several other players who are just as good, maybe better, who do not get nearly as much attention.

 

[Blue Huskie]

I have no idea what people see in that interview that makes Diggins unlikable. She was honest and answered questions that I would consider inappropriate (concerning her mom) with candor and courtesy. I also appreciate that she took ownership of the loss vs A&M last April.

Some of the things said here about Skylar remind me of Another Fan Board and it's trashing of Diana.

From my point of view that is correct in a sense because I already did not like her.
I don't hate her but I'm certainly not a fan.
A player can show "Ownership" for a loss without displaying the poor sportmanship of not shaking hands after the game.

 

[Timeout]

Hasn't won anything at this level and unless she wins a NC she will go by the way of other "good" players.

 

[HuskyNan]

Nan: With all due respect she's done nothing compared to Diana. Diana "earned" that kind of attitude. Skylar is a very good player, but IMO has a bit too much attitude for someone who hasnt won a thing. Some attitude is good, some!

I wasn't comparing the players, I was comparing the fan bases which leaves me with a really bad taste in my mouth.

Diggins isn't calling reporters for interviews or tellong ESPN to focus on her so I don't know why people are blaming her for that. And TV outlets usually takes a beating in the ratings when it airs non-UConn wcbb so I do understand why they key in on a player that seems to attract attention.

 

[HuskyNan]

Hasn't won anything at this level and unless she wins a NC she will go by the way of other "good" players.

Yeah, that Alana Beard was a really overrated player. So were Candace Wiggins, Jayne Appel, Sylvia Fowles, Cappie Pondexter, Siemone Augustus, Angel McCoughtry....

 

[Bestiarius]

Personally, I think it's great that the fifth-best player in WCBB gets the lion's share of attention because she's hot. Definitely a step in the right direction for women's empowerment.

Do you mean in a pulchritude sense or a BB sense?

 

[Timeout]

Yeah, that Alana Beard was a really overrated player. So were Candace Wiggins, Jayne Appel, Sylvia Fowles, Cappie Pondexter, Siemone Augustus, Angel McCoughtry....

Except for I never said she was overrated.

 

[JoePgh]

I would love to read an article on Nneka also, but I did love to read this article about Skylar. I didn't mind the attitude and considered the candor refreshing. Is this another case where a female athlete who is as overtly competitive as the typical high-level male athlete is disliked for the same attributes that would cause the male athlete to be admired? (Think Jonathan Papelbon.)

And it doesn't matter if she is the best, 5th best, or 200th best player in WCBB -- except that the New York Times probably would not have interviewed her if she weren't the best player on the current 2nd-best team. She is entitled to a Diana-like personality if that is genuinely hers. There are probably many players who are currently about 200th-best who would be much better if they had a personality more like Skylar's.